Remember Nation’s Heroes During Thanksgiving Holiday

...everyone can sign cards which will be sent to members of the U.S. military, veterans and their families.

Posted November 19, 2012

The American Red Cross has a new tradition families across the country can add to their Thanksgiving celebration – taking part in the 2012 Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

While families are together during the holidays, everyone can sign cards which will be sent to members of the U.S. military, veterans and their families. For the sixth year in a row, the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are giving everyone an opportunity to let the military community know their service is appreciated, especially during the holiday season.

Thanksgiving is a day when we give thanks for our blessings, and a perfect time to give the gift of thanks to members of the military and veterans for their service to our country. Many people have supported the program over the years; continue to share your gratitude with our service men and women this holiday season.

The Holiday Mail for Heroes mailbox will be open until December 7. The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will then screen the cards for hazardous materials, sort and package the cards, and deliver them to military bases and hospitals, veteran’s hospitals and other locations during the holidays.

The Holiday Mail for Heroes post office box is open and ready to receive cards. Please send all mail to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes

P.O. Box 5456

Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

There are guidelines people should follow to ensure their cards go through the review process quickly:

Only cards are being accepted. Do not send letters.

All cards should be postmarked no later than December 7, 2012. Please be sure to affix adequate postage.

Ensure that all cards are signed.

Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals cannot be delivered through this program.

Do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.

Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.

Please do not send cards with glitter.

About Pitney Bowes:

Delivering more than 90 years of innovation, Pitney Bowes provides software, hardware and services that integrate physical and digital communications channels. Long known for making its customers more productive, Pitney Bowes is increasingly helping other companies grow their business through advanced customer communications management. Pitney Bowes is a $5.4 billion company and employs 30,000 worldwide. Pitney Bowes: Every connection is a new opportunity™. www.pb.com

About the American Red Cross:The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.